In the Loop

In our latest installment of our series "What’s That Building"—when we bring you the story behind some of Chicagoland’s  architectural curiosities—we head over to the corner of Broadway and Hollywood. Today’s building was brought to our attention by listener Karen Furnweger, who passes that busy corner by Edgewater every week. It's where she noticed a building with charming terra cotta details that always catch her eye...but they might not be there for much longer. Morning Shift’s resident architecture sleuth Dennis Rodkin brings us the backstory on the building at 5656 N. Broadway. Also... a (golden) apple for one teacher in Englewood. High school students with developmental disabilities often need specialized training to get them ready for the jobs they want. Joshua Long is the principal of a public school in Chicago that does just that. At the Southside Occupational Academy in Englewood, students ages 16 to 22 get individualized attention in their academics. They also have vocational training for several different types of jobs — they specialize in Building Maintenance, Hospitality, Culinary Arts and Carpentry. Principal Long has led the school since 2010. A week ago, he received the Golden Apple Award, which honors the best teachers and school leaders in Chicago.

In 2008, then-Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley signed a $1.15 billion deal to privatize the city’s parking meter system. The 75-year contract has been widely criticized by transportation advocates who say certain contract provisions restrict the city’s ability to manage its own streets. Transportation and urban planning expert Sam Kling joins the Morning Shift to share his recommendations for how the incoming Lightfoot administration can change the parking meter deal.

One week ago today, Chicago voted in former federal prosecutor Lori Lightfoot as the city’s new mayor. She’ll take office May 20. But so far, she’s been busy, whether that’s throwing out the first pitch on opening days for the Cubs and White Sox, meeting with Mayor Emanuel’s finance team for a better look at the city’s fiscal problems, or urging the delay of a major City Council vote on the controversial Lincoln Yards project. Morning Shift checks in with the mayor-elect about how she’s preparing to take office, and what her priorities will be when she does.

Photographer Tonika Johnson wanted to bring people in the divided city of Chicago together via their "twin" addresses. For example someone living at 5600 N. Whipple in the Peterson Park neighborhood would get together and talk with someone from 5600 S. Whipple in Gage Park. The Folded Map project has been such a success that it's expanded to a stage play, and exhibit, and now, a website.  Plus we hear an excerpt from a longer conversation with writer Ron Rapoport about his new biography of Cubs legend Ernie Banks.  The book is called "Let's Play Two: The Legend of Mr. Cub, The Life Of Ernie Banks" 

Krystal Metcalfe describes her musical as “the love child of Aretha Franklin and Chaka Kahn, infused with Rock n' Soul and Musical Theatre.” That translates into music that is bold, energetic, with a strong emphasis on storytelling. Krystal Metcalf dips between genres and lands in a space that is uniquely her own. Her new EP Fear Less drops this month and she joins us now to talk more about her music and her life as a musician.

Ernie Banks loved baseball, and he loved the Chicago Cubs. And fans loved him in return. But behind the wide smile and "Let's Play Two!" attitude was a complicated man who became a kind of prisoner of the image he created for himself. Legendary sportswriter Ron Rapoport talks about his wonderful new biography of Banks, "Let's Play Two: The Legend of Mr Cub, The Life Of Ernie Banks" 

Our panel of journalists this week includes freelance reporter Kim Bellware and attorney and WVON commentator Kimberly Egonmwan. They discuss what Lori Lightfoot’s transition team means for her future administration, and why Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx seems to be in the hot seat over the Smollett case.Those aree some of the stories we cover in this week's Friday News Roundup 

After leading the Justice Department in the Southern District of New York for nearly a decade,  Preet Bharara was dismissed by President Trump early in Trump’s term. After leaving the Southern District of New York, Bharara has gone on to teach, host a podcast, and most recently, write a book. That book is called “Doing Justice: A Prosecutor’s Thoughts On Crime, Punishment, And The Rule Of Law. We talk to Bharara about what the law means to him, and what it means for our democracy.

We put Lori Lightfoot’s historic win as mayor of Chicago in perspective. What are some of the biggest challenges she’ll face? And how does this political newcomer plan on tackling those challenges? Plus turnover in city council, and what that means for the future of the city and the dynamic between the 50 alderman and the new mayor.

When the Cook County State’s Attorney's office announced it would be dropping all charges against Empire actor Jussie Smollett, reaction was divided. CPD and the police union believe he should be prosecuted for the time and cost officers incurred investigating a crime that apparently never happened. On the other side, activists say that he’s paid with his money and his reputation, and putting him in jail is exactly the thing they’ve been fighting against for non-violent offendersAnd a Northwestern assistant professor talks about Open TV, a web-based platform that’s made room for artists with multiple identities, and has proven to be an incubator and launching pad for some of the most cutting-edge writers and showrunners in the business.